Posted on Oct. 23, 2002

Educator Remembered Through Grant

During his short but remarkable life, Jonathan Joseph “J.J.” Greenberg was a man who devoted himself to the advancement of Jewish education.

Now, thanks to a grant given to the Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education in Greenberg’s memory, Jewish education professionals will benefit from seminars, workshops and conferences designed to keep them up to date on topics that concern them as educators.

The $10,000 grant was conceived and endowed by Aryeh and Raquel Rubin, a Miami couple who knew Greenberg and wanted to create a legacy in his memory. Funds will be used to bring respected experts from around the country to conduct seminars for local education professionals.

Representatives from CAJE, a beneficiary of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation/UJA Campaign, are now working with the Rubins to determine seminar subjects and speakers.

“This is a very fitting tribute to a man who dedicated himself to Jewish education during his lifetime,” said Dr. Chaim Botwinick, CAJE’S chief executive officer and president.

Greenberg was 36 when he died in Israel last month after being struck by a car while riding his bicycle. He was the executive director of the New York-based Jewish Life Network, where he helped develop such landmark programs as Birthright Israel and the Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education. He also worked with his father, Rabbi Irving “Yitz” Greenberg, on national efforts in conjunction with Hillel and the Jewish Heritage Program. His mother, Blu, is an Orthodox feminist leader who wrote the book How to Run a Traditional Jewish Household.

The Rubins have been longtime friends of the Greenbergs. They donated their grant to CAJE through their Targum Shlishi (Third Interpretation) Foundation.

“Because J.J. was dedicated to educational outreach, giving the grant in his memory just seemed like the right thing to do,” said Aryeh Rubin.

Jacob Solomon, the executive vice president of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, praised the Rubins and CAJE for their efforts.

“While it is a tragedy to lose someone as young, as gifted and as full of promise as J.J., we can take comfort in knowing that, thanks to this grant in his memory, our teachers and administrators will be able to enhance their professional skills,” Solomon said.

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